Bundesliga matchday six: Oktoberfest

It’s early, but crowded at the top as the top seven are separated by just three points. We say (no pun intended) Prost! and welcome to matchday six.

It’s Oktoberfest and Bayern will be looking to feast on winless Paderborn. RB Leipzig will be looking keep ahead of the pack which includes Schalke.

UNION BERLIN vs. EINTRACHT FRANKFURT (Friday at 1:30pm, FS2):

Neven Subotic comes back from a red card suspension while Sebastian Polten enters one after being sent off in the loss to Bayer Leverkusen. Union are enjoying life in the top flight despite three losses in their first five and rewarded coach Urs Fischer, the architect behind their first-ever top-flight promotion, with a new contract through to next season, regardless of the division in which the Berliners find themselves.

The Eagles may have a new power attacking trio in Andre Silva, Goncarlo Paciencia, and Bas Dost. However, only two of them may start against the Iron Men on Saturday. David Abraham may also return to the fold after being rested in the draw against Borussia Dortmund.

While this is the first top flight meeting between the two sides, Frankfurt have never lost at Union’s ground, the Stadion An der Alten Försterei, claiming three wins and a draw in four competitive meetings.

SC PADERBORN vs. BAYERN MUNICH  (Saturday at 8:30am, FS1)

Bayern are probably not the best team to face when trying to get their first win of the season. Indeed, the last two visits by Bayern to the Benteler-Arena resulted in 6-0 defeats for the hosts. At least Steffen Baumgart has a fully fit squad to choose from.

Bayern have scored 16 goals in the first five matches of the season. Robert Lewandowski has scored nine of them. The question is whether Philippe Coutinho or Thomas Müller will be in the #10 spot for Bayern on Saturday. 

RB LEIPZIG vs. SCHALKE  (Saturday at 8:30am, FS2)

Die Roten Bullen continue to be undefeated in the young season. Yussuf Poulsen is expected to return to the fold after missing last week to attend the birth of his first child. Tyler Adams and Marcel Halstenberg both face late fitness tests with Kevin Kampl the only one definitely out due to injury.

The Royal Blues are on a three-match winning streak and it’s due to the new work ethic under David Wagner according to Omar Mascarell. Amine Harit has scored three goals and one assist in his last two games. Weston McKennie could be the second striker for the match.  

MAINZ vs. VfL WOLFSBURG (Saturday at 8:30am, Fox Soccer Plus)

Mainz are off to their worst start in 14 years where Jurgen Klopp’s 05ers back then opened winless in their first five matches. However, they are unbeaten in their last eight against Wolfsburg at the Opel Arena. 

Oliver Glasner could have just 16 eligible first-teamers in the lineup with the rash of injuries that have hit the Wolves. Marcel Tisserand and John Brooks joined the injured list from last week. Jerome Roussillon missed training this week with a cold. Wolfsburg are one of three teams still unbeaten this season.

FC AUGSBURG vs. BAYER LEVERKSUEN (Saturday at 8:30am, Fox Soccer Matchpass)

FCA are unbeaten at home so far, but are winless in their last 18 against Die Werkself. Augsburg are hoping that Florian Niederlechner and Alfred Finnbogason can form a strike partnership. The former has been involved in all five goals for FCA this season while the latter was last season’s top scorer for the club despite a myriad of injuries.

They are seventh, but Leverkusen are still three points out of first and off to their best start in five years. The WWA has been a happy hunting ground for Kevin Volland as his last four trips there have resulted in four goals. 

HOFFENHEIM vs. BORUSSIA MÖNCHENGLADBACH (Saturday at 8:30am, Fox Soccer Matchpass)

Andrej Kramaric has returned to training and is closer to making his debut this season. Steven Zuber, meanwhile, will have surgery to repair his foot. Hoffenheim are off to their worst start since 2015-16 when they’ve  just got one point in their first five matches. At least they are averaging one point a match this time around.

A groin injury will prevent Fabian Johnson from playing against his old side. Marcus Thuram will look to keep up the good work for the Foals after netting twice in the win over Fortuna Dusseldorf. Five of the Foals’ seven goals this season have been at the 74th minute or later. 

BORUSSIA DORTMUND vs. WERDER BREMEN (Saturday at 11:30am, FS2)

Jadon Sancho has had a direct hand in at least one goal in each of the last five matches so far this season. He and Thorgan Hazard are expected to be on the wings against the Green-Whites in the late game on Saturday. BVB have scored at least once in their last 27 matches. 

Bremen have had more shots than any other team in the early going (85), but the results have not been as forthcoming with three losses in their first five games. Ludwig Augustinsson, Niclas Fülkrug and Yuya Osako being hurt does not help, but starting Josh Sargent might.

FORTUNA DUSSELDORF vs. SC FREIBURG (Sunday at 8:30am, FS1)

Zach Steffen’s save count is now at 35 and that’s 16 more than the next goalkeeper on the list. Fortuna have only one point from their last four Bundesliga outings, though theior first four opponents are participating in Europe this season: Bayer Leverkusen (3-1), Eintracht Frankfurt (2-1), Wolfsburg (1-1) and Borussia Mönchengladbach (2-1).

Freiburg are off to their best-ever start to a Bundesliga campaign and are currently in fourth place. However, they are winless in their last four trips to Dusseldorf. Vincenzo Grifo may make his first start for the club while captain Mike Frantz is a doubt with a groin injury.

FCK KÖLN vs. HERTHA BERLIN (Sunday at 11am, FS2)

The Billy Goats though they had a good performance against Bayern last week despite losing 4-0 last week. Head coach Achim Beierlorzer will hope his side will turn those good performances into results. Anthony Modeste could return to the lineup to partner with Jhon Cordoba in attack. Köln are hoping not to emulate 2017-18 when they opened with three straight home losses. 

Last week, the Old Lady got it’s first win of the season over bottom-side Paderborn. That got them out of the bottom three last week. Javairo Dilrosun got the winner last week and is expected to start ahead of Dodi Lukebakio. Hertha have the fewest shots on target with just 45 and five goals to show for it—one more ahead of Köln. 

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